Friday, October 7, 2011

Switching POV

Last week I was at a complete standstill in the writing world. I often find this problem when I begin querying. I feel like I've lost myself and it takes a bit to find me and get back to action.

Everyone knows I have an idea bucket. When a seed is planted in my head, I love to write it down and keep it safely tucked in my idea bucket for a later day. After all those ideas don't stay locked up in the brain forever.

Now most of you know I've written six novels in the year and a half I've been blogging. Four of them were young adult and the other two were Chick lit. Switching my genre showed me I'd finally found my place in the big world of writing and feel safe and secure in my choice.

However, it then got me wondering. When an agent represents you and you've made your money in one genre, they often like you to keep within that genre. Now, I know they're not against you switching, but if they don't rep it, chances are you'll be thrown back in agent waters all over again.

It got me thinking if switching point of views was the same way. What if one was used to reading your work in first person. Would they be open to you switching to third person? What if it remained in the same genre?

What? You expected me to answer? This one is really open to my fellow bloggers and writers. How big of a difference is it if you switching POV's because you know it'll make the story that much stronger? Will agents still want that book? Are they more based on your story telling and personality versus how the story is actually told?

28 comments:

I've actually wondered this, too. Third Person was my default POV until this last project and I've found I love writing in First. I think which POV you choose depends on the story. My most recent WiP works best in first while I think my last one works best in Third. I know, not any help! Hopefully others will weigh in with something useful!

I can't speak for agents, but I would guess that they'll want the POV that works best for the story. I remember someone recommending Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief books for a great example of how to use POV--she uses both first and third in her series, changing depending on what suits each individual story best.

I think the POV you choose is the one that works best with the story. I've read accounts from other bloggers who switched POVs in the midst of agent revisions and the agents were okay with it and even thought it better.

As a reader, I'm open to authors writing in various POVs. I don't think I've ever associated an author with a specific POV because authors tend to change it up depending on the story and characters.

I like to switch up POV's while writing, and even tenses, to see if it makes the story stronger. It also helps refresh a story. As a reader, I have never associated an author with POV. I've even read teen series where the author switches the POV and it works very well! I say go with the POV that works for you, the writer, and your story will shine.

Hi, I assume you're asking about switching POV from one story to another. My first reaction is to say it doesn't matter, but are all the books in a series? All of Sue Grafton's A-Z novels are first person; if, when she got to Z, she switched to third person, it would seem odd. Usually, though, I would think that changing POV would show creative range on your part. It wouldn't put me off at all.

I have NO idea what agents/editors think but I bet they read the story as a reader first. Bc that's what they are - YOUR reader. So I'm guessing that what works for you will work for them if it serves the story.

I think the POV question depends on the genre. Take YA, for instance. I think YA lends itself best to first person and agents know and kind of expect it these days. Then there's the adult thriller. While most are written in 3rd, Greg Iles, one the best writers of adult psychological thrillers, has written most of his 13 published books in 1st. He has broken this up and written in 1st AND 3rd or just 3rd. I find that I like his 1st person stories best and am a bit disappointed when reading in his chapters or most especially, an entire book in 3rd. So yes, an author's readers DO become accustomed to the writer's typical POV of choice, and then so therefore would that writer's agent.

I've read several chick-lit authors who switch POV between books, and I don't think agents mind this as long as it is working for the plot and it is very much a "Jen Daiker" novel. I think staying within the same genre is super important though ... although of course, a quick change of name can mean you can be working within two at once... Sophie Kinsella / Madelein Wickham come to mindLx

I've written in third and first, and think it depends on the book. So, I would think a good agent would realize this and stick with their client for either, as long as whichever POV they chose was right for the book, and the book was otherwise wonderful.

Interesting thought. I do think if it's a series, it needs to stay the same. But, just like finding the right genre, you have to find the right voice for each book in that genre. I'm totally enamored with first person (reading and writing it). I just finished a historical fiction novel in first person, and it was difficult at times! It's so hard to SHOW and not TELL when you're in first person in a completely unfamiliar time period.

But I think the key is finding that perfect GENRE fit. No, I don't want to be stuck in a box; however, I just want to see where my writing style best fits. I'm sure it was the same for you with the YA and chick lit--which do you prefer? Have you thought about other genres?